Trust

 

Debating What to Do for 2022

      I'm still here in Michigan... physically, at least. My heart would love to be elsewhere -- and it can, in just a few more days. Back to lovely fall in Colorado.

And hunting -- don't forget hunting season.

     The Mama continues to do well. She still does things very slowly -- but she does them. The doctor was very pleased with her progress. The visiting nurse and therapists have also been happy with how she's been improving. The doctor said when she saw Mom last, she was worried about her staying alone...but that was when Daughter #2 and Son #1 were here, and I was getting ready to arrive. Now the doctor says Mom can handle things on her own, so long as she's willing to call in help when she needs it. 

     The cousin who cleans house will continue to come, and another cousin will stop by at least a few times a week to help out. This should keep The Mama going, at least for the short term. We'll be back in early November -- and will reevaluate then.

     I'm exhausted -- from both the lack of sleep (it gets HOT upstairs) and being vigilant all the time, to make sure everything's going all right. But I can rest soon. 

The next question: How can we start planning ahead now for what may face us in 2022?

   * It's clear that The Mama is slowing down. Fortunately, that deterioration is less since this summer's version -- but congestive heart failure is taking hold. The Brick and I promised her that she could stay at home for as long as possible. Can she make it through next year? I'm not certain. 

    So that means -- do we start making arrangements ahead for what she wants? For future care, if she needs to move to a facility?  For her funeral service? (I already know about her burial plans -- she did that when Dad died, more than 12 years ago.) Do I ask about the funeral-- or is that crass? And what about deeply personal items -- like her jewelry? What goes to who? 

*We took a big hit with the truck repairs this summer. When the dust cleared, including licenses, we were forced to put out approx. $14,000. That took care of the money we'd planned to invest, and decimated our emergency fund. (Thank God we HAD an emergency fund.) 

   So that means -- do we put a permanent kibosh on any trips (except to Michigan, when needed) until the fund builds back up? (Other than repairs, we have been living within our income, thankfully.) OR -- do we say, "Oh well," and take money from our investments to cover the shortfall? (The Brick is for this. After all, that's what we saved the money for, originally. I'm not so sure.)

(By the way, White Coat Investor has an extremely comprehensive list of how much you can yearly contribute to IRAS, etc. This is also helpful in paring down your income, so you can stay in a lower tax bracket. And you can do it up to April 15 -- also helpful.)

*And what about the coming winter? We've been talking about going back to McNeal, AZ, where we volunteered last winter. This time, though, we'd only go for a month, instead of two. The Brick's brother lives in North Carolina -- we talked about visiting there. (Our kids are also talking about moving to North Carolina's Outer Banks area.) Should we just dawdle along through the Southern states, after our McNeal sojourn? Head for Florida, for a while? Head home to Colorado -- or angle up, so we can be in Michigan by spring?

    So that means -- we avoid the cold, and the need to keep the pipes from freezing. (The Brick's pet peeves) But it also means our landlord friend has no one reliable to keep an eye on his property. (He and his wife are headed south at Thanksgiving, and won't be back until spring.) 

      AND -- what about The Mama? Will she be okay? 

*One final issue: Covid. Will it be impossible to travel without getting a vaccine every time the government decrees we need one? What about other restrictions? 

    So that means -- probably no travel to Canada. International trips are probably out, too. (We had hoped to go overseas more, and still need to make up for ports we missed after the world cruise was cancelled.) The Brick had really hoped to do a trip to Israel, and I wanted to tack on Petra. Right now, that is not possible. But will it change? OR will things get so bad that we can't even travel through the States...or Mexico? 

     I'd love to go on a cruise again...and prices aren't too bad right now. But they have their own set of restrictions -- and some are downright territorial. Do I dare even make any reservations?

Decisions, decisions. Have you been debating what to do with your year ahead, as well? 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Maintaining --And Stepping Forward

     Still in Michigan, but Colorado is beckoning. I head for home and the Brick on Saturday.

     The Mama is doing MUCH better. She is now taking care of herself totally, and starting to do the other everyday chores needed in life: dishes, meals, washing clothes, etc. She even learned to put on compression stockings by herself! A cousin has offered to fill in on any household chores needed, which is wonderful of her. (And she will be paid for it. I'll make sure of that.) 

     I have hopes that all will be well -- or at least better than it was a few weeks ago.

 The Mama's house -- and my ancestors'. Photo by Joy Richards

Meanwhile:

Classic cars, 174 of them, covered in dust after a decade sitting in a warehouse... all up for auction in North London.

The latest of JP Sear's "We Lie to You News" clips. Some real winces here.

'In England, the de facto Covid epidemic has ended.'  Hmmm.

The celebrity photographer who refuses to Photoshop his subjects.

Homemade Twix-style bars. These might be a perfect Christmas present.

'What would you do if you suddenly had no money for food?' Some illuminating answers here, thanks to Quora.

What people said and did, when they didn't realize their mics -- or cameras -- were on.

Pumpkin desserts for fall. So it begins. Noooooo....

The world's first hand transplant recipient just died, age 69. He had the operation back in 1998, but had the hand removed in 2001 after he refused to take the meds -- and his body rejected it. Go figure.

Bigfoot, being aggressive to hunters. With Son #1 heading out to the boonies this week, I don't know if I want to listen to these or not. (I did.)

Dog shamings. I know -- these are silly.

Two Shark Tank stars are accused of scamming multiple would-be entrpreneurs via two crowdfunding marketing companies.  This is complicated, but worth reading, if only to keep yourself or loved ones from making the same mistake. What a mess. 

A sad article about a pregnant wife whose military husband was killed during the Tabul airport explosion. Says her mother:

'My husband died when I was nine weeks pregnant with Gigi's brother, 15 years ago, and unfortunately history is repeating itself,' she shared.

'I never thought one of my daughters would go through what I did, it's unreal and it's awful."

Things to consider about moving your residence to another country.  (Thanks, Travels with Kevin and Ruth)

*She will no longer use capital letters, because...

dr. linda manyguns, associate vice-president of Indigenization and decolonization at Mount Royal University, said she was joining local leaders to reject symbols of hierarchy “wherever they are found,” and will not use capital letters “except to acknowledge the Indigenous struggle for recognition.” 

     Whatever floats your boat, girl. But people who do not know this will assume you are uneducated. And possibly foolish.

A cow gets stuck up in a tree during Hurricane Ida. Now aren't you embarrassed that you thought that cow-whirling-around-in-a-tornado scene in The Wizard of Oz looked fake? (This cow was rescued, by the way.)

Transportation Secretary Buttigieg has twins! Congratulations to you and your husband.

President Biden plans to attend three ceremonies honoring the 9/11 -- only a few days after he said he would order an investigation reopened into declassifying evidence for who caused the 9/11 disaster. (Relatives' groups told him not to bother to attend, until he opened up access to available evidence.) Let's see... there's no time to actually view the evidence before the events. (And I'm betting that it will stall until afterwards. 'Accidentally on purpose,' of course.) Secondly, now Biden can chance attending without having everyone turn their backs on him first. 

     Please, Mr. President, don't bring up your son Beau's death, then announce 'I know just how you feel.' That is not giving your people any comfort at this point. Think of them first, before your own pain.

'Told you so' moments, treasured.

Storm, the weather dog:

Shades of Bill Steffen's 'weather cat,' who kept showing up when the Grand Rapids, MI forecaster was on the air.

An easy way to get rid of mattress stains -- without washing. (I wonder if this would work for quilts. NOTE: I'm not saying to try it! Obviously, it bleaches, so would only work on white, anyways. I think I'll do some experimenting.)

Bob Ross:  the 'happy trees artist' has a documentary out that catalogs his personal life, as well as his techniques. Vanity Fair also did a review on this, focusing on the dark side of Ross' life. From the Vanity Fair article:

"The one thing everyone involved in this conflict shares—including the filmmakers and the audience—is abiding affection for Bob Ross. They feel so strongly about Bob that they may never agree who has his best interest at heart. 

     They love him so much that they can’t stand each other."

Yep, Kim Kardahian is 'listening' to her soon-to-be-ex Kanye West's new album... but on mute!

Could Oprah Winfrey possibly be fake? (Her friendship with Harvey Weinstein is spotlighted. Not that we knew about this... because, well, some of us are white.)

Four ancient Roman battering rams found!  Those of you who loved the sea battle scene in Ben-Hur, take note.

Burning Man goes virtual.

'What customer will you never forget?'  Yup, Quora.

Dalgona coffee -- a whipped coffee variation. Sounds delicious.

Save $10,000 in just a year.  (From Millenial Money Woman)

The Afghan interpreter who helped out with Senator Biden, when he and Kerry were trapped in a snowstorm years ago? He was left behind in Afghanistan, but Psaki insists he's being rescued, as we speak. (Stay tuned for future updates.)

Have a great week.

                                                 (Christina McGraw's Bigfoot cake -- on Pinterest)

A Fitting Sunday Meme

 ...don't you think?

Ah, There's Good News Tonight

 See if you're not inspired by this gutsy cat! And his kind owner...who was smart enough to figure out 'wheelchairs' from everyday items. 

Go here for more on 'Angelito.'

His owner says:

'Every day you learn something new. He gives you life lessons. He showed me that he was brave all the time.

'I felt that I should respond to him in the same way, being brave and accepting my mission, giving him a good quality of life he deserved in response to his struggle and his will to live.'

Cat Facts

 

This kitty must be the managing editor...

Controversy in Cloth

 Another rare handkerchief is up for sale.

Tilden & Hendricks: Extremely Rare 1876 Jugate Political Bandana. 1876 was the year of America's Centennial, and this theme is found on many campaign items of that year. Like its Hayes & Wheeler counterpart, this bandana pictures the candidates along with the Father of our Country, and proclaims them the "Centennial Democratic Candidates for 1876." Perhaps because of the Centennial connection, items from this election have always been highly prized by collectors. This bandana is a particularly rare example. While it is listed by Collins in Threads of History (page 213, no. 455), the one pictured in that volume is part of the Smithsonian's collection, and it is our impression that at most four or five other examples may be known in the hobby. It measures 24" x 28" and is made of light cotton. At some point in time, the edges were folded over onto a board and the item placed in a frame. The are some splits in the fabric, concentrated along the central horizontal & vertical folds. There are two splits along the vertical fold, one of which extends into the bottom of the Washington portrait. There is a split which runs across Tilden's forehead, starting from the vertical fold and extending into the border, as well as a similar split on the Hendricks portrait, in the same general location. There are also a few splits along the right border as well as along the bottom border. These splits will become much less apparent, if not totally hidden, when the item is framed. We note a couple of very small holes. The colors are strong and there is none of the typical fading or aging seen on other examples.

P.S. Tilden & Hendricks didn't win the 1876 Presidential election.    This is also one of the most disputed elections ever. (Sound familiar?) According to Wikipedia:

 Although it is not disputed that Tilden outpolled Hayes in the popular vote, after a first count of votes, Tilden had won 184 electoral votes to [Rutherford B.] Hayes's 165, with 20 votes from four states unresolved: in Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina, each party reported its candidate had won the state, while in Oregon, one elector was replaced after being declared illegal for being an "elected or appointed official". The question of who should have been awarded these electoral votes is the source of the continued controversy. An informal deal was struck to resolve the dispute: the Compromise of 1877, which awarded all 20 electoral votes to Hayes; in return for the Democrats conceding to Hayes' election, the Republicans agreed to withdraw federal troops from the South, ending Reconstruction.^[2]

Yep, a good, honest election, resolved in an honest manner for perfectly-good reasons -- other than the truth. You bet.

You can get this piece for your collection, thanks to Heritage Auctions. Follow the link on the first sentence to set up an account.  Starting bid:  $2500.